Mufti Rafi Uthmani Saheb Daamat Barakaatuhum had explained to us that a Pakistani was once travelling on PIA in first class. It was at that time when wine would be served on PIA and the wine was free of charge in first class. The air hostess brought wine to this passenger but he refused. Then another hostess brought it, but he refused. Thereafter the captain came and he refused the captain as well.

The captains know more Masaa’il than us also. If anyone wants Masaa’il then he should go to the airlines that belong to Muslim countries. They know so many Masaa’il which even Muftis do not even know. I was travelling from Karachi to Dhaka earlier in the year. We wanted to perform Salaah at the airport but the captain was kind so he said that we can perform Salaah in the plane as we want to leave a little earlier. We said that’s no problem.  Whilst we were in the plane, one of the host refused to allow me to perform Salaah. He said that I should perform Salaah in the seat. I told him that the plane is empty so there is sufficient space, and the standing posture of Salaah is Fardh.

He was adamant that I should sit. I also told him that we are flying in the opposite direction; the direction of Qibla is actually behind us. So, he said sit in your seat but face your head in the direction of Qibla. What a Salaah? Anyway, when he left I performed my Salaah. So, they know more Masaa’il than us. So the captain told the passenger that it is not Haraam to drink wine in such quantity that it does not intoxicate you. The passenger then said, “Take that amount of wine that does not intoxicate which you allocated for me, and give it to the pilot.” They said, “He is on duty.”  The Muslim passenger gave the same answer (i.e. he is also on duty 24 hours daily).

When depositing our money at the bank, the teller is a beautiful lady but we are on duty therefore we not allowed looking at her or joking with her. If a beautiful lady customer comes to my shop, I will not show her a dress that is in one corner but I will hand her over to a saleslady as I’m on duty.

Over the telephone I will not sweeten my voice when speaking. When the wife phones then we are abrupt by saying, “What do you want, you always troubling me, what a nag you are?” If another woman phones then we say, “No problem, anytime.” We have been taught to have good character. If we can learn that we are on duty all the time. If we can only learn that we are Ummatis. We are carrying the name of Rasulullah Salallahu Alaihi Wasallam and especially if we wearing a Topi, Kurta and Amamah then the responsibility is even greater. May Allah give me and all of us Taufeeq.